Multiple lamp



L. R. WELLMAN MULTIPLE LAMP Jan. 12, 1943.

Filed Feb. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ozvzgy Jan. 12, 1943. 1.. 'R. WELLMAN 2,307,977

MULTIPLE LAMP Filed Feb. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE MULTIPLE LAMP Lester R. Wellman, Chicago, 111.

Application February 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,852

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a multiple lamp and has, for one of its principal objects, the provision of a lamp having many purposes and which can be used in various embodiments and surroundings.

One of the important objects of the invention is the provision of a lamp or lighting unit which embodies in one structure a direct source of illumination, an indirect source of illumination, a combination of direct and reflected light, and a concentrated beam or spot light.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a lamp or lighting unit which will be equally and readily adaptable for homes, oflices, hospitals, bedrooms and other uses.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved lighting unit of this invention, the normal position of the same being shown in full lines and the dotted lines indicating three other positions.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the lamp, looking up at the same from the line 22 of Figure 1 and showing the same in normal position.

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the interior reflector as turned half way toward another position.

Figure 4 is a bottom view similar to Figures 2 and 3 but showing the interior reflector turned through 180 as distinguished from the 90 turn of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view, partly in section and parts being broken away, showing the improved lamp of this invention in its normal position in full lines, and the dotted lines indicate another position wherein the interior reflector is turned through 180' into the relationship shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a portion of the operating structure and is taken on the line 66 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 6 but looking at the device from another angle, and this illustrates a modification of the invention.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral I indicates generally the outer housing or casing of the improved lamp of this invention, and this may be of any shape or size. This casing is supported in a bracket I2 which is shown as U-shaped in Figure but which also may be of other suitable shapes or sizes. The bracket surmounts an upright l4 which may have a suitable base and which may include a suitable swivel or turning means so that the lamp may be turned to any desired position even though the base may be fixed.

A light globe I6 is provided, this being supplied by current from wires l8, which wires pass through the hollow arm of the bracket I 2 and terminate in a suitable plug or other connector 20. The lamp housing I0 is surmounted by a handle or lip 22 by means of which it may be carriedor supported and the housing itself is provided with the usual reflecting inner surface.

Mounted inside the housing In is a combination supplementary reflector and bulls-eye support designated by the reference numeral 24. This is preferably of the shape shown in Figures 3 and 5 and is so mounted that it can be readily turned through as, for example, from the position shown in full lines in Figure 5 to the position shown in dotted lines in that figure.

The inner surface of this element 24 is coated with some reflecting material and the outer surface may be also so coated although this outer reflecting coating is not absolutely necessary.

The element 24 is rotatably positioned on supports at two sides of the housing ID, the support at the left of Figure 5 comprising simply a hollow mounting 26 through which the wires 18 pass to the light bulb l6 and about which a washer 28 afiixed to the corresponding portion of the shell 24 can rotate.

Diametrically opposed to this mounting is a somewhat similar washer 39 affiXed to the shell 24 by means of screws 32, and this washer 30 is press-fitted or otherwise afiixed to a pin 34. This pin 34 passes through an opening in the outer shell or lamp housing Ill, thence through a sleeve 36 which is rotatably mounted in a support 38 forming the upper terminal of the bracket 12, there being a corresponding rotatable mounting 40 at the other side of the bracket. The sleeve 35 is fixed in the outer lamp shell or housing ll! while rotating in the element 38, and mounted on the outer end of the sleeve 36 is a washer 42 T-shaped in cross-section which also rotates around the pin 34.

Aflixed to the outer end of the pin or shaft 34 is an operating handle 44 which, as shown, is

in the shape of adisk but which may be of any other style or shape. As best shown in Figure 6, this operating disk 44 has a semi-circular groove 46 provided in its inner face, and a pin 48 is adapted to ride in this groove, the pin 48 being fixed in the outer face of the L-shaped washer 42.

It will be obvious that a turning of the handle 44 will, first cause a corresponding rotation of the inner shell 24 of the improved lamp of this invention. After the end of the slot 48 in the handle 44 has contacted the pin 48, the sleeve 36 will then be constrained to move on account of the fact that the L-shaped Washer 42 is many practical uses.

fixed on this sleeve by means of a set screw or the like as shown. This sleeve, being fixedly connected to the outer shell of the lamp will, accordingly, cause a corresponding rotation of the lamp itself, and the same can, therefore, be conveniently adjusted into one of many positions such as shown in Figure 1.

At the same time, additional or further inanipulation of the handle 44 will cause a corresponding relative rotation of the inner shell 24 with regard to the outer shell l0 whereby the bulls-eye formed by the piano-convex lens 50 in the inner shell 24 can be brought into play. In this position, the device appears from the underside as illustrated in Figure 4, and light from the source I6 is concentrated in a more or less parallel beam forming a spot light. In this position, the device is particularly applicable for reading or doing other close work as, for example, a physicians inspection of portions of a patients anatomy. In this manner, the device is particularly applicable for use in hospitals.

The handle 54 opposite the handle M is simply a dummy but could be adapted for turning the outer shell or reflector without any movement of the inner shell.

In Figure 7, a slight modification of the invention is shown wherein the outer shell 60 is provided with inwardly extending ledges 62 and 64, and a flange 66 is provided on the inner shell or reflector member 68. This flange 66 contacts the under-face of the ledge 62 and the upper face of the ledge 64 when the inner reflector member 68 is in its normal position as shown by the full lines in Figure '7. This inner reflector can obviously be turned through approximately 180", the beginning of this turning movement being indicated by the dotted lines in the figure. After the 180 movement has been completed, the flange 66 will then contact opposed faces of the ledges 62 and 64 whereupon the outer shell 60 will be constrained to ride about its supports in the bracket 10. This is accomplished by an ordinary operating handle which is mounted on a'pin or shaft affixed to the inner reflector element 68 and which passes through a suitable opening in the outer shell 60. The usual light globe l6 and bulls-eye 50 are provided.

It will be evident that herein is provided an illuminating unit of considerable utility and of The device may be used as an ordinary standard reading lamp either in the home or in other places, and if the light is desired to be concentrated so that the beams will not unduly spread, thereby causing annoyance to others, the inner reflector member may be turned so that a bull's-eye or spot light effect is obtained. The construction is such that there will be no light escaping between the reflector and the outer shell. This concentrated beam of light can be used for purposes other than reading such as for medical examinations of patients in hospitals or in dental work, and the construction is such that the beam can be directed at practically any desired angle. This makes an ideal physicians exploratory lamp.

When an indirect illuminating effect is desired, the outer housing I0 can be turned into an upside down position with a corresponding relationship of the inner reflector whereby all the rays from the source of light will be directed upwardly against the ceiling of a room, thereby presenting a very satisfactory illumination while, at the same time, avoiding a direct entry of rays direct from the light source into the eyes of any person in the room. This is, of course, assuming that the housing Ill is positioned on the stand I4 at a height somewhat above six feet.

An ideal night light can be provided by simply turning the inner shell so that the bulls-eye is uppermost while, at the same time, the outer shell is also turned upwardly. This leaves simply a spot on the ceiling and a rather dim resultant light through the room. The spot light, of course, can be directed into a corner and the amount of current supplied to the light globe may be likewise varied so that greater or less illumination can be procured. The device will not overheat when a prescribed lamp or globe is used.

The supporting stand M can obviously be turned and also raised and lowered so that very close work can be accomplished with the illuminating apparatus of this invention.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combination direct, indirect and spot light illuminating means comprising a lamp housing, a source of light therein, a bracket, means for rotatably mounting the housing in the bracket, a secondary reflector rotatably mounted in the housing, a plano-convex lens centrally mounted in the secondary reflector and means for turning the secondary reflector in the outer housing, both independently and concurrently, said means comprising an operating handle mounted on the supporting bracket, and means connecting the operatinghandle directly to the inner reflector, said means comprising a shaft, a sleeve surrounding the shaft, said sleeve being fixedly connected at its inner end to the outer housing, a washer on the outer end of the sleeve, a pin projecting from the outer face of the washer, there being a groove in the inner face of the operating handle into which said pin fits.

2. A combination direct, indirect and spot light illuminating means comprising a lamp housing, a source of light therein, a bracket, means for rotatably mounting the housing in the bracket, a secondary reflector rotatably mounted in the housing, a plano-convex lens centrally mounted in the'secondary reflector and means for turning the secondary reflector in the outer housing, both independently and concurrently, said means comprising an operating handle mounted on the supporting bracket, and means connecting the operating handle directly to the inner reflector, said means comprising a shaft, a sleeve surrounding the shaft, said sleeve being fixedly connected at its inner end to the outer housing, a washer on the outer end of the sleeve, a pin projecting from the outer face of the washer, there being a groove in the inner face of the operating handle into which said pin flts, said groove being semi-circular for limiting the motion of the inner reflector with respect to the outer housing to a turning movement of approximately LESTER R. WELLMAN. 

